Collinwood girls working their way back: Girls Track Insider

Senior Stephanie Hale from John F. Kennedy recovers after winning the 400 Tuesday at the Jesse Owens Track and Field Championships. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Collinwood's girls track team had to settle for second place at Tuesday's Jesse Owens Track and Field Championships. From 1994 to 2010 that was not the case as the Railroaders under retired coach Lou Slapnik reeled off 17 straight city championships.

No one had to point that out to Greg Morrow, who took over the coaching duties on East 152nd Street three years ago. In fact, near the finish line at the Collinwood Athletic Complex, where the meet was held, a huge sign proclaims all of Collinwood's past success.

"We've got a nice group of kids," said Morrow, whose club totaled 104 points to John Hay's dominating 202. "We had some pretty good wins. We should be in decent shape. It's been a long season."

Morrow, who had single-digit numbers his first season, said his squad now ranges from 12 to 15 girls and most of them are underclassmen.

Sophomore Cayla Napoleon accounted for 32 points as she won the 100 hurdles, took second in both the 300 hurdles and high jump, with a third in the long jump. Freshman Iyanna Heard was third in both the shot put and discus.

The Railroaders denied the Hornets a sweep in the relays as the quartet of junior Imani Hudson, along with sophomores Latrice Hogan, Shanique Simpson and Chifaun Smiley, won the finishing 4x400 relay by seven seconds. Collinwood used a different foursome to take second in the 4x800.

"We're coming along and I feel good about it," said Morrow, who works at the Michael L. White Planning Center and is the football offensive coordinator at John F. Kennedy. "Once I figure out the secret [to increase the numbers] we'll be back. It's more important the girls I have work so hard as a team. I love them to death."

Closing in: John Hay won 10 of the 16 events on Tuesday, with the pole vault not contested. Coach Carmen Priester's Hornets won the city bragging rights for the third straight year.

"We've won since Slap [Slapnik] left," said Banks. "He passed it down to us."

Slapnik served as the on-field coordinator and announcer.

Long times standing: The oldest girls record on the books for the Cleveland schools meet goes back 30 years. Cindy Anzalone of Rhodes ran the 1,600 in 5:14.50 in 1983.

The next oldest belongs to Markeya Jones from the closed South High. She ran the 200 in 23.70 in 1988.

Bearing down:Padua's 4x800 relay squad won its North Coast League Blue Division event with a clocking of 9:48.36. The Bruins did it with three sophomores in Jaimie Adams, anchor Amanda Jancewicz, Micaela Carrol and a senior in Renee Kraft.

It's the fourth best time in Division II this season. According to milesplit.com, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy at 9:36.18, Coldwater (9:43.83) and Kettering Archbishop Alter (9:44.85) have the top times.

Adams was fifth in the state last year in the 1,600 at 5:10.54. Jancewicz was 11th in the 800 with a 2:21.76.

Follow Us

cleveland.com is powered by Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and Northeast Ohio Media Group. All rights reserved (About Us).The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Northeast Ohio Media Group LLC.